Adjustable form



Nov. 15, 1955 v. E. BER GER ADJUSTABLE FORM Filed April 29, 1953 FIE-ZS m M m N Z 5 m. M E M M H V 4 kw B m 7m aw Ia m 9 v F lrroxue-rs United States Patent ADJUSTABLE FORM Verda E. Berger, Minneapolis, Application April 29, 1953, Serial No. 351,989

2 Claims. (Cl. 223-68) The invention herein has relation to a new and improved form, for employment by dressmakers in the manufacture and fitting of dresses and other garments, consisting of vertical and horizontal, interconnected, semirigid, relatively adustable straps enclosed by a stretchable one-piece covering, and upon which form dresses and other garments can be fitted in lieu of being fitted to persons by whom the dresses or garments are to be worn.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. l is a front elevational view, partially broken away and with a part omitted, of an adjustable form made according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the adjustable form as it would appear from the right in Fig. 1 with part of the form for the fitting of a sleeve removed;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a sleeve fitting part of the adjustable form as it would appear from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the disclosure of Fig. 3, corresponding with the disclosure of the sleeve fitting part of the adjustable form as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 -is"an enlarged fragmentary view detailing the manner in which both vertical straps and horizontal straps, respectively,of the form are relatively adjustable;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken on line 66 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on line 7-7 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of a detachable connection between a strap of the body fitting part and a strap of a sleeve fitting part of the form as said detachable connection would appear from the position of line 88 in Fig. 2.

Speaking generally, the invention presents an adjustable form for the fitting of clothing including a body fitting portion consisting of separate semi-rigid straps each adjustable as to length and extending longitudinally of the adjustable form, separate semi-rigid straps each adjustable as to length and extending transversely of said adjustable form and means interconnecting longitudinal and transverse straps of the adjustable form at locations where these cross each other, and a one-piece cover of stretchable material upon said body fitting portion. And the form as disclosed herein also includes sleeve fitting portions, to be removably assembled with the body fitting portion, each consisting of separate semirigid straps each adjustable lengthwise thereof and extending longitudinally of the corresponding sleeve fitting portion, separate semi-rigid straps each adjustable lengthwise thereof and extending transversely of said corresponding sleeve fitting portion and means interconnecting longitudinal and transverse straps of the sleeve fitting portions, respectively, at locations where these cross each other, and a stretchable one-piece cover upon each of said sleeve fitting portions.

With respect to the drawing and the numerals of reference thereon, 10 denotes each of vertical or longitudinal,

interconnected, semi-rigid straps, at both front and rear and opposite sides of a body fitting portion of the adjustable form, each adjustable lengthwise thereof, and 11 represents each of horizontal or transverse, interconnected, semi-rigid straps, at both front and rear and opposite sides of said body fitting portion, each also adjustable lengthwise thereof. The straps 10 and 11 are interconnected, as indicated at 12, where they cross each other.

As disclosed, there are six spaced sets of vertical, longitudinal, interconnected straps 10. A strap of each of two vertical sets of straps 10 at front and rear of the body fitting portion, at opposite sides of central front and rear sets of straps, extends across the shoulder, between neck and arm of the form. Each of said mentioned two sets of straps is continuous from the lower front to the lower rear of the body fitting portion of the adjustable form. A central front set of straps 10 is continuous from neck to lower part of said body fitting portion, as is also a central rear set of straps 10. A set of straps 10 at each of opposite sides of the body fitting portion of the adjustable form is continuous from arm pit to lower edge of a side of said body fitting portion. And there is a set of straps 13, each adjustable lengthwise thereof, at the location where each of the sleeve fitting portions of the adjustable form is to be assembled with the body fitting portion. 1

Also, there are six spaced sets of horizontal, transverse, interconnected straps 11. Two of the sets of straps 11 are in alinement at the top and center of the thickness of the body fitting portion of the adjustable form. Each of said two sets of straps 11 extends outwardly from a neck band 14 of said body fitting portion to a set of straps 13. The neck band 14 itself desirably will be constituted as a set of interconnected, semi-rigid straps each adjustable lengthwise. A third set of straps 11 extends around the body fitting portion at the location of the bust, just below the chest, somewhat closer to the neck band 14 than to the waist line. A fourth set of straps 11 extends around said body fitting portion at the waist line. A fifth set of straps 11 extends around the body fitting portion at the hips. And a sixth set of straps 11 extends around said body fitting portion at the lower end thereof, considerably below the hips.

The straps 10, 11 and 13 of the different sets of straps, as well as the straps providing the neck band 14, are adjustable as to length in such manner that the form can be adjusted to any shape and size which may be desired, and means are provided for adjustably assembling the straps of each set with each other and for fastening the straps of the different sets, respectively, in fixed relation after adjusted to desired length.

The manner of adjustably assembling and fixedly connecting each of the straps 11 is disclosed in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. All of the other straps are adjustable as to length and secured in fixed relation in the same way as are the straps 11.

An end portion 15 of one strap is telescopically fitted into an end portion 16 of an adjacent strap. As shown, the end portions 15 are flat, and the end portions 16 have inwardly turned flanges 17, 17 on their opposite side edges providing oppositely disposed channels 18, 18 in facing relation to each other for snugly, slidably receiving opposite side edge portions of the end portions 15.

The inwardly turned flanges 17, 17 rigidly support bearings 19, 19 for a cross-pin 20 which is parallel to the end portion 16 and extends transversely thereof at the inner side of the end portion 15 in spaced relation thereto. The cross-pin 20 rotatably supports, as at 21, a latching element having a finger piece 22 at one side of and in spaced relation to said cross-pin and a detent 23 at the opposite side of and in spaced relation to the crosspin for removable entry into any selected one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 24- in the end portion 15. A curled spring'25 upon the cross-pin 20, having one of its ends engaged, as at '26, against an inwardly turned llange l7 and its other end engaged, as at 2'7, against the detent 23, normally urges said detent toward the end portion and its apertures 24.

When a strap is to be adjusted lengthwise, the finger piece 22 is depressed to remove the detent 25 from the end portion 15, and, after adjustment or" the strap is accomplished, said finger piece is released to cause or permit said detent to enter an aperture with which alined. When the detent is in an aperture, the straps are fixed against relative movement.

Especially, attention is invited to the fact that all of the connecting devices between adjacent straps of the adjustable form, such as the flanges 17, the bearings 19, the cross-pins 20 and the latching elements, etc, or equivalent connecting devices, are at the inner side of the straps and adjustable form.

Vertical, longitudinal straps 10 are adjustably interconnected at locations between shoulder and bust, between oust and Waist line and between waistline hips. Horizontal, transverse straps 11 are adjustably interconnected at locations between each of the sets of vertical, longitudinal straps 1t Adjustable interconnections between the straps of any set additional to those in the disclosure as made can, of course, be included.

After the body fitting portion of a form has been adjusted to desired shape and size, a stretchable one-piece covering member 28, which may be of any material suitable to its purpose, will be tightly fitted upon said body fitting portion, as in Figs. 1 and 2.

Each sleeve fitting portion of the adjustable form includes longitudinal, interconnected, semi-rigid straps, each denoted 29, and transverse, interconnected, semirigid straps, each represented 30. All of the straps 2:9 and are adjustable as to length in the same general manner as hereinbefore set forth. The straps 29 and 30 are rigidly interconnected at the locations Where they cross.

After each of the sleeve fitting portions of a form has been adjusted to desired shape and size, a stretchable one-piece cover 31 will be tightly fitted thereon.

Finally, the sleeve fitting portions will be assembled with the body fitting portion. To this end, an upper central part of each sleeve fitting portion includes a pivoted clip 32 for insertion-in an opening 33 in a strap of the body fitting portion at the top and center of the thickness thereof. The manner in which the sleeve fitting portions are supported upon the body fitting portion will e apparent from Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 8 of the drawing.

What is claimed is:

I. in an adjustable form for the fitting of clothing, a fitting portion consisting of a plurality of spaced sets semi-rigid straps at both front and rear and opposite i ics or the fitting portion and each extending and adjustable longitudinally of the adjustable form, a plurality of spaced sets of semi-rigid straps at both front and rear and opposite sides of said fitting portion and each extending and adjustable transversely of said adjustable form, devices disposed interiorly of each of said sets of i-rigid straps for fastening the straps thereof in fixed "on, means interconnecting longitudinal and transverse straps of the fitting portion at locations where these cross each other, and a stretchable one piece cover tightly fitted upon said longitudinal and transverse straps of said fitting portion after being adjusted to shape and size.

2. in an adjustable form for the fitting of clothing, a fitting portion consisting of a plurality of spaced sets of semi-rigid straps at both front and rear and opposite sides of the fitting portion and each extending longitudi ally of the adjustable form, a plurality of spaced sets semi-rigid straps at both front and rear and opposite sides of said fitting portion and each extending transversely of said adjustable form, devices disposed interiorly of each of said sets of semi-rigid straps for fastening the straps thereof in fixed relation, means interconnecting longitudinal and transverse straps of the fitting portion at locations where these cross each other, and a stretchable one piece cover tightly fitted upon said longitudinal and transverse straps of said fitting portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 945,611 Rubin Jan. 4, 1910 1,280,429 Engle Oct. 1, 1918 1,487,509 Bushlowitz Mar. 15, 1924 2,510,333 Davis June 6, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,806 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1905 

